'He thought that thought the snake could be a boa constrictor,' she said.

'I called the police but as soon as I said what had happened they hung up, they thought it was a hoax. I called back and begged them to listen, that it wasn't a hoax, and they said they would get the RSPCA round.'

'I called the RSPCA and they said they would someone around but it wouldn't be until the next day.

'The boys and I waited outside the house for a while because we were so scared. Then they went to bed and I just sat on my bed all night absolutely petrified.'

'I kept thinking that it would get out and also that there could be more than one in the house. I hate snakes. They scare me and I have absolutely no idea where this one came from.'

RSPCA spokeswoman Jo Barr said the snake was thought to be a corn snake which is not poisonous.

She said Wendy called them at around midnight and that the snake had been there for some time.

She said: 'The caller said the snake was in good health, not injured and was confined, so it was not sick or in danger and an officer was sent out first thing in the morning.'

The RSPCA has now collected the snake.

Cherry Keehner, of the 'Tiny Boas' reptile shop in Exeter, said: 'Corn snakes can grow to a 5ft in length, they are not poisonous but they can give you a nip if they are scared.'

Corn snakes typically retail for around £30.

Exeter has had more than its fair share of stray snake stories. Last year a customer left an eight foot boa constrictor, worth around £250, at the Tiny Boas store for safe keeping and never returned to reclaim it.